Weavers of Bihars Biharsharif, who rued their lot till recently, are going places with Okhla-headquartered Fab India procuring their products to sell in its chain of up market handloom stores across the country.

The first such order came in March this year for 7.5 k M of Eco Stripe fabric in seven different colours. This order was worth Rs 4.5 lakh. State Women Development Corporation [WDC]’S chief handloom consultant Purushottam Prakash told TOI and added 50-odd women associated with the Biharsharif. Hast Shilp Mahila Bunkar Swalambi Sahkari Samiti benefited as their skills caught Fab’s fancy.

We also supply bedsheets to all the government hospitals in Bihar marketing manager Sudeep Chaudhary said and added WDC has received an order for supply of 14,020 pieces of Sarees for ASHA[Aids & Sexual Health Awareness] Workers.

As for the rich tradition of Biharsharif, experts recalled, these weavers supplied curtains for the Rashtrapati Bhawan when Deshratna Dr Rajendra Prasad occupied the erstwhile Viceregal Lodge designed by Lutyens. Their products had a large market even in Germany; experts said and ruled that the overbearing presence of middlemen virtually led to a silent death of the Industry.

We had to restart with only five to six families, who had stuck to the art of weaving, Chaudhary said.